Government officials on Wednesday morning, 6 Adar 5772 announced the feared gas hike would take place at midnight. There will be a 5.09% increase to 8.05 NIS per liter for 95 octane, an unprecedented high for full service. Self service will be 21 agorot less a liter, 7.84 NIS.
The price converts to $8.50/US gallon based on the conversion rate furnished by the Bank of Israel at closing of banking Tuesday, 5 Adar of 3.785 NIS to one US dollar.
The outcry is quite audible and the public is calling on the national government to cut taxes to reduce prices at the pumps. Sever Pluzker, the prominent Yediot Achronot financial correspondent explains that the government must do a great deal more to improve public transportation to give citizens a viable alternative as most cannot afford a car.
It should be pointed out that taxes comprise 51% of the price per liter.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
More of the taxes should be used to fund public transportation. I think a 100% tax would be fine also, for that purpose. One doesn’t NEED a car. I have lived my entire life without a car, so have my parents – none of us ever had a driving liense at all. Yet we always managed just fine and I never felt anything was lacking.
Cars destroy the environment, they kill the planet with their exhaust fumes and the roads built for them, not even mentioning the traffic accidents they cause.
For those who really do *need* a car, exceptions could be made, provided they can prove they actually need that car – for example those who need to work on irregular hours, travel all around to different places all the time (sales reps, tech people etc), or those with physical handicaps.
No normal person who works (or learns) during daytime hours and lives in an urban area (city) NEEDS a car.
I totally don’t understand the American obsession with cars. Half your cities are filled with roads, many children in your cities suffer from asthma, people regularly get killed by drunk and/or reckless drivers… why?!